posted on December 20, 2000 10:18:06 PM new
I won an auction on ebay-"Buy It Now" for a ring that was listed as 10k diamond ring and originally cost $399.00.
I received it today and looked thru my jewelers loupe and noticed that it says 10KP.
Isn't that gold plated ?
The "Diamonds" were listed as 1.6 carats yet I have old 1970's cubic that sparkles a bit more than these small stones.
The seller said she was selling it for someone...It's a nice ring,but I feel I was misled as I don't *think* 10K and 10KP are one in the same.
eyedo
posted on December 20, 2000 10:37:49 PM new
Take it to a jeweler. The 10KP COULD mean plated, though I have never seen that exact abbreviation; the jeweler should be able to tell you, and also tell you if the stones are synthetic or CZ.
posted on December 20, 2000 10:56:22 PM new
10KP means 10 Karat Plumb Gold, or exactly 10 Karat, not 9 Karat or 9.5 Karat, but 10 Karat precisely. The mark was adopted in the 1980s so that one could tell they were not getting shorted on the gold content. Since pure gold has to be mixed with alloys in order for it to workable and durable, 10Karat gold is actually 10/24 gold, while 14K is 14/24 and pure gold is 24/24.
It sounds like you got real gold, but you might want to have a jeweler take a look at the stones, If they are smaller stones, they may be single-cut, meaning they have fewer facets (hence less brilliance or sparkle) that a fully faceted diamond. This is not necessarily a defect, as stones below a certain size are simply too small to hold the number of facets on a fully cut stone.
Without seeing it, it's impossible to tell you more than that, but from your description, I think it is very possible you received a 10K & diamond ring.
posted on December 21, 2000 04:44:04 AM new
eyedo -- I am a jewelry appraiser in RL. Rest assured, you have 10K gold. Rivergrrl is right on all accounts but one.
Single cut diamonds indeed have less brilliance than full cuts, but it's not because of their small size that they may be single cuts. With faceting technology today even half pointers can be full cut. It is all done with machines and computers.
There are several possibilities as to why your ring doesn't "sparkle" as much as your CZ. First, the price is some indication. $400.00 for 1.60 Cts. is a pretty low price per carat, and therefore the diamonds may be down in clarity (included) or down in color (yellow or brown) Both will disrupt brilliance. Remember, your CZ is inclusion free and colorless. If the ring is secondary market (selling it for a friend) there is a possibility that the ring has not been cleaned. Grease and dirt will adhere to diamonds. In fact during the mining process the crushed diamond bearing ore is passed over grease "tables" The ore is washed off while the diamonds stick like glue.
Make up a batch of jewelry cleaner: 1 part amonia, 3 parts water, a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Soak the ring for 10 min. or so, then using very hot water and a toothbrush give it a good scrubbing front abd back. Try to get to the backs of the stones. You may see a marked improvement.
Good luck!
--Brought to you by MHO Productions--
[ edited by geminspector on Dec 21, 2000 04:45 AM ]
posted on December 21, 2000 06:12:27 AM new
To be honest, I can't imagine anyone purchasing a diamond from a individual, on line, unless they are allowed an opportunity to have it viewed and inspected by a professional, before conclusion of the sale.
There are jewelers in store fronts that I wouldn't buy from, more so buying from an individual on line.
I took one of my rings into a local jeweler because I had a stone loose and the fool, who has a major business in our town, told me the ring portion wasn't gold! He did this by "eyeing" the ring, he didn't test it.
I panicked, and went to the jeweler I normally use in a city close by and had them examine and test it - and naturally it was gold, the first jeweler just didn't know what he was talking about and that is frightening!
posted on December 21, 2000 06:13:56 AM new
Hi I Swore, yes, geminspector taught me something as well. In a previous life (read my younger days), I was a jewelry appraiser, but they couldn't fully facet the smaller stones then. Well, they could, but they were not commercially viable due to cost. Technology brings new innovations all the time!
The advice on cleaning the ring is great. Why didn't I think of that? I hope it shines right up for eyedo so this purchase dose not end up a disappointment.
